Air removal roller for cloth laying machines



Aug. 23, 1966 w. ROSENBACH AIR REMOVAL ROLLER FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1964 1966 w. ROSENBACH 3,268,221

AIR REMOVAL ROLLER FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,268,221 AIR REMOVAL ROLLER FOR (CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Werner Rosenbach, New York, N.Y., assignor to Cutting Room Appliances Corp, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 414,175 2 Claims. (Cl. 2'70-31) This invention relates generally to the field of cloth laying devices, and more particularly to a means for removing air entrapped between superimposed layers of material as the layers are dispensed from a continuous web.

The problem of air entrapment occurs principally with the dispensing of relatively tightly woven fabrics having a low degree of porosity, and almost always occurs when the cloth laying machine is used to dispense a continuous web of synthetic resinous planar material in which porosity is nonexistent. When entrapment occurs, the adjacent layers of material do not lie directly upon each other and have a tendency to shift laterally with respect to the principal axis of the table upon which the material is layed, making it diificult to maintain the juxtaposed edges of the individual layers in a common vertical plane. Where such shift does not occur immediately, if the air is not removed from between the layers, the shifting may occur when the layers of material are subsequently cut, resulting in the cutting of non-uniform pieces as an individual layer shifts with respect to the layer immediately therebeneath as the cutting edge penetrates the layers.

It is, of course, possible to manually smooth each layer of material as the same is layed, but this is a time consuming process, and necessitates the stopping of the cloth laying machine at the end of its path of movement.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved means which may be mounted directly upon the carriage of a cloth laying machine which may exert a continuous travelling pressure upon the uppermost layer of material, immediately after the same is dispensed by the carriage upon the table for the purpose of automatically flattening the layer and removing any air which may be entrapped therebeneath.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved air deflating means as above described, in which the operative parts thereof are supported in such manner as to be automatically raised to the proper operating level as the number of cloth layers progressively increases.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved air deflating roller means which may be conveniently installed upon existing cloth laying devices with a minimum of modification.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved air deflating roller for cloth laying machines which may incorporate means to permit the same to be moved out of the way of cloth fold retaining means which are normally disposed at either end of a cloth laying table, as the carriage approaches the end of its travel, and automatically returned to operative position as the carriage moves in an opposite direction.

A feature of the invention lies in the face that the air deflating means may include a plurality of rollers, at least one of which is always in contact with the uppermost layer of material.

3,258,221 Patented August 23, 1966 Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the deflating means is progressively cammed from operating position upon contacting a cloth fold retaining device much the same way that the cloth fold retaining means is cammed by the carriage, whereby a minimum of manual effort or mechanical power is consumed during the deflecting action.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation-a1 view of a cloth laying machine embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view, somewhat schematic in nature, corresponding to the lower right hand portion of FIGURE 1, and showing the position of the air deflating means just prior to engagement with a cloth fold retaining device.

FIGURE 3 is a similar fragmentary side elevational view, corresponding to that shown in FIGURE 2, but showing the progressive deflection of the air deflating means as the same is contacted by the cloth fold retaining device.

FIGURE 4 is a similar fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to the left hand portion of FIGURE 1, but showing the initial contact of the left hand air deflating roller with the left hand cloth fold device.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 2, but showing the air deflating means in a fully deflected condition. FIGURE 7 is a top plan view showing one of the link members comprising a part of the air deflation means.

FIGURE 8 is a similar top plan view of a central 1 mounting bracket comprising another part of the air deflating means.

FIGURE 9 is a similar top plan view showing a second link comprising a part of the air deflation means.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view as seen from the lower portion of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view corresponding to the lower portion of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view corresponding to the lower portion of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of an air deflating roller supporting link, which in assembled condition is attached to the lower portion of the link shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 14 is an end elevational view as seen from the right hand portion of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is an end elevational view as seen from the right hand portion of FIGURE 16.

FIGURE 16 is a side elevational view of a roller supporting link which in assembled condition is secured to the link shown in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly in section, of an :air deflating roller.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of air deflating roller.

In accordance with the invention, a cloth laying machine, generally indicated by reference character is illustrated in FIGURE 1 in the drawings. The specific details of said machine form no part of the present disclosure, and are described and illustrated in US. Patent No. 2,442,352, granted June 1, 1948, to H. W. Gilbert et al., and US. Patent No. 2,520,895 granted August 29, 1950, to H. W. Gilbert et al., both patents being assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

The cloth laying machine 10 includes a table having an upper surface 11 upon which successive layers of cloth are deposited, the surface 11 supporting a carriage element 12 for leftward and rightward movement as seen in FIGURE 1 between first and second cloth fold retaining elements 13 and 14, as is well known in the art.

The carriage element 12 includes a pair of side frames, one of which is indicated by reference character 15, supported by wheels, one of which is indicated by reference character 16, to enable the same to be either manually pushed or electrically driven over the table surface 11. Cloth supporting means 17 is illustrated in the form of a platform upon which a cloth supply 18 is disposed, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a cloth supply in the form of a roll (not shown) may also be employed. A web of cloth is trained over a roller 19, subsequently over a powered roller 20 from whence it travels to a fold forming means of the type described in the above mentioned Patent No. 2,520,895 for disposition beneath one or the other of the cloth fold retaining elements 13 and 14. Pivotally mounted at one end on the carriage element 12, and rolling along the table surface 11, are a plurality of cam members 23 which serve to periodically elevate the cloth fold retaining elements 13 and 14 at the end of cloth laying movement in either direction by the carriage element 12. As is known in the art, the upper surface 24 of each of the earns 23 contacts the lower end 25 of the movable part of the elements 13 and 14 to raise the same to a degree wherein the folded cloth may be placed therebeneath. To reduce friction, the lower ends of the cams 23 are provided with rollers 26.

The specific details of the first and second cloth fold retaining elements 13 and 14 are also illustrated in the above mentioned Patents Numbers 2,442,352 and 2,502,- 895, and will, accordingly, be described only briefly herein. Each element 13-14 includes a pair of side plates, one of which is indicated by reference character 28, each plate including a curved groove 29 forming a cam and a horizontally disposed guiding groove 30 which control the movement of a pair of elongated links 31. The links 31 have end points 32 engaged within the groove 30, and a median point 33 engaged with the curved groove 29. The configuration of the groove 29 is such that the end 25 will execute movement in a vertical plane as the same are raised.

Referring to the carriage element 12, the same is provided with a pair of slots 34 in which the fold forming means is mounted for vertical movement in accordance with the raising of the level of cloth upon the table source 11 as the carriage element 12 is'reciprocated. Slidably disposed within the slot 34 are supporting frames one of which is indicated by reference character 35 (see FIG- URES 8 and-11). The frame 35 is preferably of cast construction, and includes a mounting block '36,a right hand supporting arm 37 and a left hand supporting arm 38. l

Each of the arms 37-38includes a mounting member 39, 40, respectively to which are attached a right hand pivotal link 41 and a left hand pivotal link 42'by means of bolts 43. Stop members 44 and 45 prevent the links the positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Pivotally mounted on the lewer ends of the links 41 and 42 are roller supporting links 46 and 47, respectively,

f4 and each including an upper end 48, 49, respectively, and a lower end 50, 51, respectively, which are provided with extensions 52 and 53 which support the air deflating roller 54.

As best seen in FIGURE 17, the roller 54 includes oppositely disposed end portions, each having a mounting member 55 engaged in fixed relation on one of the lower ends 50-51, and forming one race of ball bearings 56. The oppositely disposed outer race is mounted on the inner surface of a hollow rotating sleeve 57 to permit the sleeve 57 to rotate smoothly as it passes over the exposed surface of a layer of cloth or other material.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, as more particularly shown in the Gilbert Patent No. 2,520,895, an elevating wheel 59 progressively elevates the frames 35 by means of a chain member 60 which is incrementally advanced with each reciprocation of the carriage element 12, thus providing a means for maintaining the effective level of the roller 54 at the same height of the uppermost layer of cloth.

To avoid the possibility of scratching the outer surface of the rollers 54, which is normally highly polished, the

links 31 of the elements 13 and 14 are provided with protective pads 61 which may be of leather or other suitable material in those areas where contact is made during operation, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6.

Referring to FIGURE 2, as the carriage element 12 is moved rightwardly, the cloth fold retaining element 13 is progressively lifted by the cams 23, in order to permit a fold of cloth to be positioned therebeneath. With progressive rightward movement, as seen in FIGURE 3, the lower ends of the links 31 contact the side surface of the links 46 and 47, which are free to pivot, at least 90 degrees in eiher direction from the vertical. With progressive rightward movement, the links are moved clockwise, until the upper ends 48 and 49 are contacted, at which time subsequent clearance is provided by a counterclockwise pivoting motion of the pivotal links 41. As the frame 35 is always continuously elevated, it will always clear the cloth engaging bar 58.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a similar movement takes place when the carriage element 13 is moved leftwardly, in which case the links 42 and 46 cooperate to produce a similar result.

Referring to the alternate form illustrated in FIGURE 18, the roller 64 is capable of limited axial expansion to accommodate for minor differences in the widths of the side frames 15 in previously manufactured existing machines. Thus the roller 64 includes a short tube sec tion 65 and a long tube section 66 urged axially away from the short tube section 65 by a coil spring 67. To permit free rotation as in the principal form, there is provided a roller bushing 68 on the short tube section 65 anda bar supporting bushing 69 rotatable with respect thereto. The roller bushing includes a sleeve portion 70 having a socket 71 accommodating the end 72 of an elongated bar 73, the bar 73 being maintained within the socket 71 byv the engagement of a pin 75 in a slot 74, the bar 73 preventing collapse of the spring 67. A similar arrangement of structure (not shown) is provided at the opposite end of the roller 64.

I wish it to be understood that we do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Iclaim:

1. In a cloth laying machine, including a cloth laying table having an upwardly disposed surface, and a car- .riage element slideably carried by said table and having means dispensing a continuous web of material upon said table, the improvement comprising: means for squeezing air entrapped between adjacent layers of material as the same are laid upon the surface, said means including a roller of a length at least equal to the width of said cloth web of material, and pivotally mounted link means yield ably supporting said roller transversely to the axis of movement of said carriage upon said table, at the level of the highest layer of material disposed upon said surface; said last mentioned means including first and second brackets mounted upon said means for dispensing said web, each of said brackets having a first link pivotally mounted for movement upwardly only from a horizontal disposition, and a second link pivotally mounted for free rotation on said first link, said roller being carried by said second link.

2. The cloth laying machine of claim 1 further characterized in having a cloth fold retaining means at each end of the table, the rollers being lifted up at each end by said retaining means when contacted therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Priester 270-31 Rosenblum 270-31 Goedike 29-120 Gilbert et al. 270-31 Gilbert et al. 270-31 Colehower 29-120 Marshall 66-170 Great Britain.

15 LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, IRVING BUNEVICH,

Examiners. 

1. IN A CLOTH LAYING MACHINE, INCLUDING A CLOTH LAYING TABLE HAVING AN UPWARDLY DISPOSED SURFACE, AND A CARRIAGE ELEMENT SLIDEABLY CARRIED BY SAID TABLE AND HAVING MEANS DISPENSING A CONTINUOUS WEB OF MATERIAL UPON SAID TABLE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: MEANS FOR SQUEEZING AIR ENTRAPPED BETWEEN ADJACENT LAYERS OF MATERIAL AS THE SAME ARE LAID UPON THE SURFACE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A ROLLER OF A LENGTH AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID CLOTH WEB OF MATERIAL, AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LINK MEANS YIELDABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROLLER TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXIS OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE UPON SAID TABLE, AT THE LEVEL OF THE HIGHEST LAYER OF MATERIAL DISPOSED UPON SAID SURFACE; SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND BRACKETS MOUNTED UPON SAID MEANS FOR DISPENSING SAID WEB, EACH OF SAID BRACKETS HAVING A FIRST LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT UPWARDLY ONLY FROM A HORIZONTAL DISPOSITION, AND A SECOND LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR FREE ROTATION ON SAID FIRST LINK, SAID ROLLER BEING CARRIED BY SAID SECOND LINK. 